DCS partners with foundation to restore dignity of a raped woman
A 5 room house was built for an elderly disabled woman from Nongoma who was sexually assaulted by a 29-year-old man earlier this year.
The Department of Correctional Services has demonstrated that government can indeed partner with various stakeholders to change the lives of South Africans. This was evident when the department partnered with the Ayanda Msweli Foundation to build a 5 room house for an elderly disabled woman from Nongoma who was sexually assaulted by a 29-year-old man earlier this year.
Ayanda Msweli, who is famously known as “Ingwenya” and does traffic on Ukhozi FM said he was deeply touched after hearing about the old woman’s story and quickly lobbied local residents and business people to make donations to build a house for the elderly lady who was living in an unlocked one room shack. Nhlanhla Mdluli of Logistics then donated R20 000 and also lobbied Build-It Ulundi who also donated material worth R20 000. Mdluli also asked another business associate of his who also donated R10 000 to start building a house.
Correctional Services national spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo also reached out after seeing a video that was posted by the foundation and requested KwaZulu Natal Regional Commissioner, Mr Mnikelwa Nxele to provide offender labour to build the house. The Regional Commissioner then requested Ncome Area Commissioner, Mr Anthony Gina to assemble a team and assist the foundation to build this house.
Work began and funds ran out when the house was at roof level. Msweli then started an initiative of “Iconsi Ligcwalisa Ibhakede” pleading for ordinary South Africans to donated just R10 to help finish Gogo’s house. The initiative proved to be a success because not only were the R10 able to help finish the house, but the spirit of Ubuntu that Tata Nelson Mandela used to preach about was revived.
Nongoma Municipality, through their recently appointed mayor, Cllr Ndabandaba quickly requested to also join forces with all those involved in the project and ensured that the house was fully furnished and electrified.
Addressing all those who came to witness the handing over of the house during Mandela Day, the Regional Commissioner, Mr Mnikelwa Nxele expressed his gratitude to all the stakeholders that were involved in building this and said that this initiative indeed showed that a lot more can be done if government, business, NGO’s and the community joins forces. Nxele also went on and thanked Ayanda Msweli for coordinating the project and Director Gina from Ncome and his team and offenders for doing such a sterling job. “I would like to thank Ayanda Msweli Foundation, UKhozi FM, Halfway Port Shepstone Ford, Dlula Logistic, Build It and all the people of South Africa, Happy Mandela Day”, concluded Nxele.
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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.
